Automatic cleaner for swimming pools



July 16, 1968 A. PANSINl 3,392,738

AUTOMATIC CLEANER FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed July 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR. ANDREW L. PANSINI ATTORNEY July 16, 1968 A. 1.. PANSINIAUTOMATIC CLEANER FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed July 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet2 R m w m ANDREW L. PANSINI ATTORNEY y 6, 1968 A. L. PANSINI AUTOMATICCLEANER FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed July 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG -11FIG. 14

M mfi NM WP N IL W E R D N A I ay/44 v! M ATTORNEY PIC-2-15 July 16,1968 A. L. PANSINI 3,392,733

AUTOMATIC CLEANER FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed July 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR.

ANDREW L. PANSINI BY War/PW ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofice3,392,738 Patented July 16, 1968 3,392,738 AUTOMATIC CLEANER FORSWIMMING POOLS Andrew L. Pansini, 180 Los Cerros Drive, San Rafael,Calif. 94904 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 358,486, Apr.9, 1964. This application July 26, 1967, Ser. No. 660,555

23 Claims. (Cl. 134-167) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swimming poolcleaner having a substantial length of hose provided with a terminalcleaning nozzle, said hose being adapted to be normally submerged forfree movement along the bottom of a swimming pool and being providedintermediate the length thereof with jet nozzle transport means adaptedto move said hose first in one direction and then in another directionand there by prevent the stalling of said hose against submerged poolsurfaces while removing dirt from the bottom of the pool through movingcontact therewith.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application,Ser. No. 575,921, filed Aug. 22, 1966, now abandoned, said latterapplication having been in turn a continuation-in-part of my co-pendingapplication, Ser. No. 358,486, filed Apr. 9, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an automatic cleaner for swimming pools andthe like and more particularly to a device adapted to remove theaccumulated scum and dirt from the sidewalls and bottom of a pool by thejet of water issuing from a discharge nozzle attached to a flexiblehose. The objects to be attained by the present invention are somewhatsimilar to those achieved through the use of the invention of my priorPatents 2,975,791 of Mar. 21, 1961, and 3,032,044 of May 1, 1962.

The above-cited patents disclose pool cleaning devices which include asupply conduit extending inwardly of the pool and supported at its innerend on a float. Connected with the supply conduit is a flexible cleaninghose, provided with a discharge nozzle at its free end, which is adaptedto travel in a random manner over the bottom and sidewalls of the pool,movement of the same being caused by the reaction of the discharge jeton the discharge nozzle.

The main object of the present invention is to generally improve theoperation of swimming pool devices of the type herein contemplated andspecifically the devices shown in the above-cited patents. Moreparticularly, as will be understood later on, the pool cleaner of thepresent invention is adapted to achieve substantially the same endresult obtained by the devices of the cited patents while havingeliminated therefrom several of the complexities of the prior devices.It will be seen that the present invention is substantially lessexpensive to manufacture than those disclosed in the prior art and doesnot sacrifice efficiency of operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swimmingpoolcleaning device which lends itself particularly to the cleaning ofpools having irregular shapes and contours and which device in facttakes advantage of such irregularities to promote elficiency.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and from the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical swimming poolshowing one form of the device of the invention in operation therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the swimming pool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of one form of cleaninghose transportng means;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a simplified form of cleaninghose transporting means;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of an auxiliarydevice which may be employed along with a cleaning hose transportingmeans;

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section taken in a plane indicated bylines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section through the deck of a swimming poolshowing a winding reel which may be employed as part of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the structure and apparatus of FIG. 7 withportions broken away and in section to show internal structure;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a modified form of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of driving nozzle;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a portion of a swimming pool showinganother form of the device of the invention in operation therein;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view in perspective of the cleaning hose transporting meansof FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of a swimming pool showing stillanother form of the device of the invention in operation therein;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, taken along lines 15-15of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view in side elevation of still another form of thecleaning hose transporting means of the invention, the housing thereforbeing broken away to show the internal mechanism;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the hose transporting means of FIG. 16,the same including drive jet interruption means not embodied in the FIG.16 embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 16 but showing stillanother form of the cleaning hose transporting means of the invention;and

FIG. 19 is a detail view showing further control means for a cleaninghose transporting means; which may be of the type shown in FIG. 18.

In detail, and first with reference to FIG. 1, the invention will bedescribed in connection with a typical pool installation that includes abottom 1, an end wall 2 at the deep end of the pool and steps 3 at theshallow end of the pool. Sidewalls 4 extend along the long dimension ofthe pool.

A supply hose 7 is provided and is connected to a source of water underpressure which is indicated schematically at 8 in FIG. 2. Between thesource 8 and the supply hose 7 there is interposed a solenoid-actuatedvalve indicated schematically at 9. This valve 9 is controlled by aconventional timing device 10 which serves to close the valve 9periodically for a short duration of time and for a reason which will bedescribed in detail later on.

The supply hose 7 is connected to a transporter generally designated 12(FIG. 3). The transporter 12 comprises a rigid length of conduit 13provided at one end with, for example, a female hose fitting 14 forsecurement to supply hose 7, and at its other end with a male fitting 15to which a cleaning hose 16 is connected. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,cleaning hose 16 is flexible and is provided at its free end with adischarge nozzle 17.

Intermediate the ends of conduit 13 of transporter 12 is a tubularsection 19 perpendicular to and connected with conduit 13 at one end andsecured at its other end to a jet supply conduit 20.

Reactive propulsion transport jets 21, and 22, respec tively, are formedat opposite ends of the jet supply conduit 20, and a ball 23 is freelydisposed in conduit for movement therealong into engagement with one orthe other of valve seats and 26 formed inwardly of jets 21 and 22,respectively.

At this point it will be seen that water from source 3 may flow insupply tube 7 through conduit 13 (FIG. 3) of transporter 12 and thenthrough cleaning hose 16 to be discharged through discharge nozzle 17.At the same time, water under pressure flows through section 19 into jetsupply conduit 20 and then is discharged through whichever one of thejets 21, 22 is not obstructed by ball 23. It will be apparent thatmovement of discharge nozzle 17 is effected because of the flexibilityof the cleaning hose 16 and at the same time additional movement of thecleaning hose 16 results from the movement of transporter 12, the lattermovement being caused by the reactive propulsion imparted by whatevertransport jet is in operation. From FIG. 3 it will be seen that whentransport jet 21 is in operation, the movement of transporter 12 will besuch as to tend to put the supply hose 7 in tension whereas whentransport jet 22 is in operation, the movement will tend to put thesupply hose 7 in compression.

In order to encourage translation of transporter 12 as opposed torotation which would cause coiling of supply hose 7, the section ofsupply hose 7 adjacent transporter 12 is preferably made stiffer thanthe remainder of supply hose 7. This additional stiffness may beaccomplished by providing a length of plastic tubing 28 around the hose7 adjacent the transporter 12.

The present invention takes advantage of the fact that the typicalswimming pool is usually of such a contour as to provide curved surfacesor inclined surfaces along all of which the transporter 12 is bound tomove after a period of time. Assuming, for example, that the transporter12 is in the position of FIG. 1 and moving upwardly along the inclinedbottom 1 under the influence of transport jet 21 when the timer 1t)shuts off the valve 9, it will be apparent that the ball 23 will move bygravity along jet supply conduit 20 into engagement with the valve seat25 of jet 21. By setting the timer 11) so that it shuts the valve 9 offfor only a few seconds, subsequent opening of the valve 9 will result inreversal of direction of movement of the transporter 12 and consequentmovement of the transporter 12 toward the end wall 2 of the pool.Obviously, a reversing action will occur if transporter 12 is tending toclimb wall 2 at the time the valve 9 is actuated. It will also beapparent that a similar reversing effect will result when thetransporter 12 is moving crosswise of the pool and tending to climbsidewall 4.

The random movement of the transporter and the discharge nozzle 17 whichresults from the operation of the above-described device insurescomplete cleaning of the bottom and walls of the pool. In thisconnection, it will be noted that transporter 12 and supply hose 7 neednot necessarily be sufficiently heavy to rest on the bottom of the poolbut may be buoyant enough to assume an intermediate position between thebottom and the surface. In other words, the transporter may plane, andthe discharge nozzle 17 is free to take any one of an infinite number ofpositions, including positions along the sidewalls and end walls of thepool, during which time it cleans the pool wall surface as well as thepool floor surfaces. In fact, the transporter may plane to a degreewhere the transport jet discharges into air rather than into the poolwater. In either case, the transport jet operates pursuant to the sameprinciple of reaction, and in the same manner and with the same results.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a buoyant supplyhose 7 which does not necessarity tend to rest on the bottom of the poolbut which may take an intermediate position permitting complete coverageof the pool surfaces by the discharge nozzle 17.

The present invention also contemplates that the transporter 12 maycarry the discharge nozzle 17. This, of course, would be substantiallythe case if the length of cleaning hose 16 is reduced so as to be almostnil.

It will be apparent that cleaning action is achieved not only by thedischarge nozzle 17 but, to a considerable degree, cleaning is alsoachieved by the transport jets 21, 22. If desired, said jets may beinclined slightly toward the conduit 13 thereby enhancing the cleaningaction without detracting much from the propulsive force of the same.

Since the towing action of the cleaning hose by the transporter asopposed to the pushing action gives extremely good coverage without thetransporter becoming stuck in one position, it is possible in someinstances to eliminate the jet reversing mechanism and the solenoidoperated valve by providing a simple jet as shown in FIG. 4. In thiscase, a conduit 30 connects the supply hose 7 and the cleaning hose 16and said conduit is provided with an offset reactive propulsion nozzle31 which has the eflfect of towing the cleaning hose and pushing thesupply hose at all times.

The advantages achieved by the above-described embodiments of thepresent invention are partially attributable to the fact that thetransport jets are directed substantially axially of the associatedwater conduits. Since the supply hose 7 is flexible, pushing action onthis hose results in the discharge jet taking an irregular path even ifthe cleaning hose 16 were not present. In like manner, the tendency ofthe transporter to compress the cleaning hose axially when the jetdirection is reversed also insures a completely irregular random pathwhich is of importance to optimum operation of the device. In thisconnection it is to be noted that pushing action on the cleaning hose isbetter for cleaning the sidewalls of the pool, while pulling, or towing,action on the cleaning hose is better for general pool cleaning.

It will be apparent that the above-described: device not only providesan extremely simple apparatus for accomplishing the desired result butthat the transport jets, in addition to serving their main purpose ofmoving the discharge nozzle 17, also act as discharge nozzles in helpingto clean the walls and bottom of the pool. The amount of stiffnessdesired in the supply hose for any size pool may be regulated byproviding one or more sections of tubing 28 over the supply hose 7 inorder to achieve the desired rigidity adjacent the transporter 12.

An auxiliary to the transport means is shown in FIG. 5. In this case afitting generally designated is provided with a jet orifice 41 and isexternally threaded to be attached to the female hose fitting 14 of thesupply hose 7. The orifice 41 is coaxial with the adjacent portion ofsupply hose 7 and is directed toward the cleaning hose 16 which isconnected to a fitting generally designated 43. This fitting 43 issimilar to fitting 40 except that it is provided with a relatively largediameter passageway 44 communicating with cleaning hose 16. The fittings40 and 43 are spaced apart several inches, e.g., three to four inchesand are secured together in spaced relationship by means of a smalldiameter rod 45 which may be welded or brazed or otherwise secured atits ends to said fittings. Rod 45 is eccentric relative to the centralaxis of the conduit (FIG. 6). The purpose of this structure is to causea reduction in the water pressure of the water issuing from thedischarge end of the cleaning hose, thereby preventing any tendency ofthe end of the cleaning hose to emerge from the surface of the pool andspit water over the pool deck and. adjacent areas. All of the waterissuing from orifice 4-1, along with additional water aspirated intothis jet stream, issues, but at low velocity, from the discharge end ofthe cleaning hose. If desired, a tubular wire mesh screen 46 may extendbetween the fittings 40, 43 and be secured at its opposite ends to saidfittings by brazing or welding. Such a screen prevents leaves, paper andother debris from clogging the conduit 44 of the cleaning hose and atthe same time does not interfere with the function of the jet issuingfrom orifice 41.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of storage meansfor the conduit that includes the supply hose and the cleaning hose.Such a storage installation is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein anupwardly opening cylindrical compartment 50 is provided in deck 51adjacent one of the sidewalls 4 of the pool. Rotatably supported withincompartment 50 is a winding reel generally designated 52 which ismounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a bearing 53. Reel 52includes a drum portion 54 and a circular base portion 55 which isadapted to support the windings of the conduit. Supply water isconducted through pipe 58 into the compartment 50 and pipe 58 extendsupwardly within reel 52 and terminates in a swivel 59. Water underpressure is supplied from swivel 59 through radially extending pipe 60to a point adjacent the inner periphery of compartment 50. Pipe 60 isprovided with a T 61 to which is connected the flexible supply hose 7. Ahorizontally extending passageway 62 connects the lower end ofcompartment 50 with the pool and is adapted to receive therethrough thesupply hose 7.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the pipe 60 is provided at its outer end with ahorizontally extending conduit 65 having nozzles 66, 67, at its outerends. Intermediate said nozzles the conduit 65 is provided with atwo-position valve 68 having an upwardly extending actuating arm 69. Atthis point it will be noted that one or the other of the two nozzles maybe connected to the source of water under pressure by actuation of arm69. If the valve 68 is actuated to connect nozzle 66 with the waterunder pres sure, the reel 52 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction(FIG. 8) to reel in the supply hose 7 by forming windings of said hoseabout the drum portion 54. By reversing valve 68, the reel 52 is rotatedin a clockwise direction to reel out the hose.

Since hoses, especially those formed of plastic, have different degreesof rigidity depending on the temperature, it is preferable that the hose7 be provided with a wire 70 running axially of the same as indicated inFIG. 8. In this manner, the hose may be made somewhat more rigid than itwould be in warm weather in order that the windings are not tightlyformed about the reel 52 but tend to resist the winding action so thatwhen the hose is reeled out there is no tendency for the same to doubleup within compartment 50. This hose structure also has the advantage ofproviding more favorable random movement of the supply hose within thepool during normal operation.

The compartment 50 may be covered by a lightweight cover plate 72positioned flush with the upper level of deck 51 and provided with asmall central aperture 73 to facilitate removal and replacement of saidcover plate.

In lieu of the two-way valve 68, the outer end of pipe 60 may beprovided with a swivel 77 (FIG. to which is secured a nozzle 78 turnedat right angles to pipe 60. The nozzle 78 may be manually swung to oneor the other of its two horizontally directed positions in order toreverse the direction of rotation of the reel 52.

It will be noted that the water level within compartment 50 is the sameas within the pool so that the driving jets may be submerged. However,in the structure of FIGS. 7 and 8, the arm 69 may extend above the levelof the water so as to make the arm readily accessible when the coverplate 72 is removed.

A modified form of storage structure is shown in FIG. 9 wherein acompartment 80 is provided which does not communicate with the pool asin the structure disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this case the manuallyactuated reel generally designated 81 is provided and this reel includesan upwardly extending winding handle 82 which is accessible after coverplate 83 is removed. A hole 84 is provided in cover plate 83 so as toreceive therethrough the hose 7 which may then extend over the deck 51and into the pool as indicated.

The storage arrangements shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 lend themselvesparticularly to use with a transporter of the type shown in FIG. 5.However, the passageway 62 may be made large enough in cross-sectionalextent to accommodate the transporters shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The invention also contemplates the use of a jet driven reel in thecombination of FIG. 9. Such an installation is readily made in existingpools.

In FIGS. 11l3, there is shown a modification of the invention whichenables periodic automatic reversal of the direction of jet drivewithout requiring an electric timer or a solenoid actuated valve, i.e.without requiring periodic cessation of water flow.

Interconnecting supply hose 107 and cleaning hose 116, the latter havingdischarge nozzle 117, is a cylindrical housing 113 containing spiders115 and 118, stationary shafts and 122 carried by the spiders, aplurality of gear sets 124, constituting a speed reducing gear train,rotatably supported on bearings 126 carried by shafts 120 and 122. Theinput gear 128 of the train is fixed to rotatably supported stub shaft130 to which there is secured a vaned rotor 132 adapted to be rotated bythe input water to the housing. The output gear 134 of the train is inmesh with a gear ring 136 fixedly attached to a sleeve 138 havingoppositely directed 180 slots 140 and 142. Sleeve 138 is mounted onconduit 144 for rotation thereon. Conduit 144 extends through housing113, being fixedly supported by spiders 115 and 118, having at its endsdischarge nozzles 146 and 148, and being internally divided by a plug150, or the like, into two flow passageways, the input and output endsof one of which are constituted, respectively, by port 152 formed inconduit 144 and discharge nozzle 148, the input and output ends of theother of which are constituted, respectively, by port 154 formed inconduit 144 and discharge nozzle 146.

It will be appreciated that water flowing into housing causes rotationof sleeve 138 in a constant direction under relatively high torque andlow speed to disclose first one and then the other of ports 152 and 154through their associated valving slots 142 and 140, thereby regularlyand sequentially changing the direction of jet drive through first oneand then the other of the drive nozzles 146 and 148. The input water tohousing 113 is divided for output between cleaning hose 116 and conduit144.

In FIGS. 14-15 there is shown a satisfactorily workable variant of thatembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. l3, corresponding parts beingindicated by the same reference numerals plus 200. Except for thedifferences hereinafter described, these two embodiments of theinvention are essentially the same as to consturction and mode ofoperation. Tubular section 21.9 is comprised of interfitting bosses, oneof which is integral with conduit 213 and the other of which is integralwith the jet supply conduit 220. A releasable clamp connectiontherebetween is afiorded by set screw 218, thereby enabling the jetsupply conduit to be disposed at any angleto conduit 213 between axialalignment therewith, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, and 90 thereto,as shown in FIGS. 14-15, these two extreme positions being the two mostpractical and desirable positions for use.

The jet supply conduit 228 is substantially longer than jet supplyconduit 20 of FIGS. l3 so that when conduit 220 is disposed atsubstantially a right angle to conduit 213 the inactive jet end of theformer tends to engage the pool floor and thereby furnish outriggersupport to prevent twisting of the hose sections about their long axes.

As is indicated in FIG. 14, when the jet supply conduit 220 is disposedcross-wise to conduit 213, the hose sections 207, 216 tend to assume theshape of a bow, the operative transport jet being disposed at theconcave side thereof. Thus, in the solid line showing of FIG. 14, jet222 is operating, while in the dotted! line showing of FIG. 14, jet 221is operating. The resultant hose shape pattern responsive to jettransport action is quite similar 7 to that of the embodiment of FIGS.1-3. Thus, in FIG. 2, the two hose sections 7 and 16 are moved, theformer being pushed and the latter being dragged, from the solid lineposition to the dotted line position during the course of operation oftransport jet 22.

FIGS. 16-19 illustrate further embodiments of the subject inventiveconcept, i.e. the provision of means for sequentially applying a drivingforce in more than one direction to a submerged pool-cleaning hose toensure that the hose will extricate itself from any position in the poolwhere continued application of a uni-directional force would tend toimmobilize the hose.

In FIG. 16, the water supply hose 307 and the cleaning hose 316 areattached to housing 313. The housing 313 is shown as being circular inplan view outline (FIG. 17) and, in side view outline, as being convexlyformed at the top and bottom. Within the housing, shafts 360, 362 and364 are supported for rotation by bearings 366. Attached to shaft 360for rotation therewith is a vane impeller 368. Hose 307 is provided witha discharge end 370 adapted to direct water tangentially of the impellerand in driving relation thereto. Affixed to shaft 360 is an input gear372 which is in mesh with gear ring 374, the latter being affixed toshaft 362. Also affixed to shaft 362 is a gear 376 which is in mesh withgear ring 378, the latter being aflixed to shaft 364. Shaft 364 ishollow and is formed with one or more ports 380 so that water may flowinto and through shaft 364. The upper and lower ends of shaft 364 extendthrough the housing and are formed to provide a pair of jet nozzlesegments 382.

The two drive jets provided by segments 382 impart a balanced drivingforce to the transporter housing with reference to its horizontal axis,thus driving the streamlined and symmetrically shaped housing generallyhorizontally through the water in submerged condition. The rotationalmovement of shaft 364 causes a continuous but slow movement of thenozzle segments 382 through 360, thereby effecting a continuous changein the direction of the effective jet driving force applied to thetransporter housing and ensuring that the housing will beself-extricating from any dead-ended position it may reach within thepool.

FIG. 17 illustrates the transporter housing 313 modfied to the extent ofbeing provided with one or more arcuate baffies 384 on each of its upperand lower surfaces. Each such baffle may comprise a mounting flange 386for attachment to the housing and a flange 388 extending vertically andaway from the housing into blocking relation with a segment of the fullcircle path of discharge of a nozzle segment 382. Such upper and lowerbafiies, which may be attached to the housing for selective positionaladjustment, as shown, function to simultaneously and periodically blockand close off the jet openings of segments 832 and thereby temporarilystop the transporter in various positions within the pool. Pairs ofbaffles 384 can be employed to limit jet drive flow to selecteddirections, e.g. essentially parallel to the hose connection axis ofhousing 313 or essentially at a right angle to said axis.

While the size and shape of housing 313 are relatively unimportant, itis preferable that its vertical dimension be relatively compact and thatits horizontal dimension in the direction at a right angle to its hoseconnection axis be fairly substantial in order to minimize thepossibility of the housing flipping to an upside down position tothereby twist the hose.

FIG. 18 shows another form of transporter for the supply and cleaninghoses. Again, the housing 413 is preferably circular in plan viewoutline, and it has connected to it a water supply hose 407 and acleaning hose 416. Rotatably mounted within housing 416 in bearings 466are shafts 460, 462 and 464. Shaft 460 is provided with fixed gears 472and 473; shaft 462 is provided with fixed gears 474 and 476; and shaft464 is provided with fixed gear 478. This train of gears is driven bythe worm gear end 490 of rotatably mounted shaft 492 to which impeller494 is fixedly attached, the latter being driven in "rotation by inputwater from the supply hose 407. Shaft 464 is provided with a port 480whereby water may pass through tubular arm 481, fixedly attached toshaft 464, and be discharged from jet nozzle segment 482 which isintegral with arm 481 and and is parallel to and in vertical alignmentwith said arm 481. The reversed direction of nozzle segment 482, i.e.being directed toward the vertical axis of rotation of its carrier shaft464 rather than, as in FIGS. 16-17, away from the vertical axis ofrotation of the nozzle segment carrier shaft 364, causes the jetdischarged from nozzle segment 482 to at all times tow, or pull, and notpush, the housing, thereby enhancing the horizontal stability of thehousing.

In FIG. 19, the embodiment of FIG. 18 is modified to the extent ofincorporating means to selectively control the time of and direction ofdischarge of the transporter drive jet. Thus, there is disposed aroundshaft 464 in nonbinding relation thereto a sleeve 496 having a pair ofopposed slots 498, each of which extend around the sleeve for somewhatless than Slots 498 are disposed at the level of port 480, so that whensaid port is in registry with either of said slots a driving jet issuesfrom nozzle segment 482, and when said port is blocked by either of thetwo opposed imperforate portions 499 of the sleeve between the slots nodriving jet issues from nozzle segment 482. Sleeve 496 is fixedlysecured to plate 500, and the latter is provided with an elongatedarcuate slot, not shown, through which a screw 502 passes for connectionto the wall of housing 413. By loosening screw 502, pivotally adjustingplate 500, and re-tightening screw 502, the two opposed imperforateportions 499 may be disposed in alignment with the diametral axis ofconnection of the hoses 407, 416 to the housing, or at any selectedangle relative to said axis, and thereby the driving jet may be turnedoff at selected angular positions of 090 relative to said axis.

The above specific descriptions of the preferred forms of the inventionare not to be taken as restrictive since it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications in design may be resortedto without departing from the scope of the following claims. Forexample, it is not a departure from the present invention, as hereafterclaimed, if the transport jet discharges into air. It is sutficient tobe within the practice of the present invention for the locus ofdischarge and the direction of discharge of the transport jet to be suchthat the action of the jet tends to a measurable degree to either imparta compressive or a stretching force to a portion of the supply hoselocated in the generally adjacent vicinity of the transport jet.

Furthermore, it is to be pointed out that the various forms of apparatusherein specifically illustrated and described may serve a cleaningfunction to a satisfactory degree in the absence of the cleaning hose(e.g. 16 in FIG. 1) and its terminal discharge nozzle (e.g. 17 in FIG.1), i.e. considering the downstream end of the transporter, to which thecleaning hose is normally attached, as being plugged, or closed off, andtherefore lacking the cleaning hose and the latters discharge nozzle,each of the various forms of the invention, so modified, would beoperable to effect pool wall and pool bottom cleaning through thecombined dirt dislodging effect of the drive jet of the transporter andthe physical contact with, and movement against, the pool walls andbottom of the supply hose and transporter.

Also, each form of the apparatus, whether with or without the cleaninghose and its attached terminal discharge nozzle, as above-described,can, with advantage, be provided with an additional jet dischargenozzle, e.g. of the type shown in FIG. 4. This additional nozzle wouldbe located along the supply hose in flow communication with the supplyhose at some position intermediate the transporter and the source ofwater under pressure, but in submerged condition, and said additionalnozzle would be oriented so that the jet it discharged would put thatportion of the supply hose which is upstream from the additional nozzleunder a tension rather than a compression force. This would not onlyaugment the pool cleaning effect by way of the presence of a furtherjet-discharging nozzle, but, more importantly, the water supply hosetensioning jet would reduce the load, i.e. the water supply hose, to bemoved by the transporter.

Included within the subject inventive concept is apparatus consisting ofa transporter, a supply hose connected thereto, a single fixedlypositioned and continuously operable transporter drive jet oriented toimpart a component of pulling motion to the supply hose and a componentof lateral movement to ,the transporter so as to tend to prevent thetransporter from becoming stalled against a portion of the poolstructure, said apparatus either including or not including theabovementioned additional nozzle to reduce the load to be moved by thetransporter.

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device for swimming pools and the like, comprising:

(A) an elongated conduit having an inner portion adapted to be connectedat its inner end to a source of water under pressure and having an outerportion provided at its outer end with a first submergible dischargenozzle;

(B) a second discharge nozzle carried by said conduit at a pointintermediate the ends thereof and directed substantially axially of theadjacent part of said inner conduit portion;

and wherein said second nozzle is coaxial with said adjacent part ofsaid inner conduit portion and is adapted to direct at least some of thewater discharged therefrom into the outer portion of said conduit forsubsequent discharge through said first nozzle.

2. A cleaning device for swimming pools and the like, comprising:

(A) an elongated conduit having an inner portion adapted to be connectedat its inner end to a source of water under pressure and having an outerportion provided at its outer end with a first submergible dischargenozzle;

(B) a second discharge nozzle carried by said conduit at a pointintermediate the ends thereof and directed substantially axially of theadjacent part of said inner conduit portion;

and wherein said conduit is interrupted to provide a space between saidsecond nozzle and the outer portion of said conduit, said second nozzlebeing directed coaxially of the adjacent part of said outer portion,whereby at least some of the water discharged from said second nozzleenters said outer portion of the conduit for subsequent discharge fromsaid first nozzle, and means extending across said space for holdingsaid portions of said conduit together.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means is aperforate tubular sleeve secured at its opposite ends to said portions.

4. In a cleaning device for swimming pools which includes an elongatedconduit having its inner end con nected to a source of water underpressure and having its outer end provided with a discharge nozzle:

(A) a reel adapted to be rotated in one direction for receiving windingsof said conduit therearound for storage of a portion of said conduit andadapted to be rotated in the opposite direction for paying out saidconduit into said pool; and,

(B) a driving nozzle carried by said reel and directed tangentiallyrelative to the axis of rotation of said reel, said driving nozzle beingconnected to said source of water whereby discharge of water rotatessaid reel.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said driving nozzle isswingable to one or the other of two oppositely directed positions toeflect rotation of said reel in either direction as desired.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein a second driving nozzle isprovided on said reel directed oppositely from said first mentioneddriving nozzle, and means for connecting said source with one or theother of said driving nozzles for driving said reel in either direction.

7. A device according to claim 4 wherein said reel is positioned in acompartment adjacent said pool and said compartment communicates withsaid pool by a passageway adapted to receive said conduit therethrough.

8. A device according to claim 4 wherein said reel is positioned in anupwardly opening compartment adjacent to said pool, the compartmentbeing provided with a cover for closing the same, said cover beingprovided with an opening for receiving said conduit therethrough.

9. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools, comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion adapted to beextended in submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a swimmingpool, said portion having:

(1) one end adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure;

(2) an opposite end provided with a submergible discharge nozzle; and,

(B) reactive propulsion means carried by said portion intermediate theends thereof for substantially unrestricted random movement togethertherewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said portion so as to be adapted to assumetherewith a submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool tobe cleaned, said body defining an interior cavity adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a source of water under pressure; and

(2) a nozzle segment secured to said body and having a pair ofsubstantially oppositely disposed discharge jet openings adapted to bein fluid communication with said cavity and adapted to be positioned todischarge jets of water, and means for alternately opening and closingeach of said jet discharge openings, whereby, when said portion is insubmerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool to be cleanedand said cavity is connected to a source of water under pressure, a jetof water is alternately discharged from each of said openings in adirection imparting a force to said portion through said body to effectat least a component of axial movement of a length of said portion,immediately attached to said body, adjacent said surface.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein:

(A) a length of said portion upstream and immediately adjacent saidmeans is secured in substantially inflexible relationship relative tosaid body; and,

(B) said upstream length is stiffened to a degree relative to theremainder of said portion and over a lineal distance suflicient tosubstantially prevent coiling of said portion responsive to the actionof said propulsion means.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said means for alternatelyopening and closing each of said discharge jet openings comprises:

(1) a pair of valve members, one of said members being associated withone of said openings and the other of said members being associated withthe other of said openings, each of said members being mounted to bedrivably moved to alternately open and close the opening with which itis associated; and

(2) water-motor drive means operative in response to the flow of waterfrom a source of. water under pressure to drivably move said valvemembers and thereby alternately open and close said openings.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

(A) a length of said portion upstream and immediately adjacent saidmeans is secured in substantially inflexible relationship relative tosaid body; and,

(B) said upstream length is stiffened to a degree relative to theremainder of said portion and over a lineal distance suflicient tosubstantially prevent coiling of said portion responsive to the actionof said one of said reactive propulsion means.

13. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools,

comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion adapted to beextended in submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a swimmingpool, said portion having:

(1) one end adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure;

(2) an opposite end provided with a submergible discharge nozzle; and,

(B) a transporter carried by said portion intermediate the ends thereoffor substantially unrestricted random movement together therewith, saidtransporter comprising:

( 1) a body having an interior cavity adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a source of water under pressure;

(2) a pair of substantially oppositely disposed discharge jet openingsadapted to be in fluid communication with said cavity; and,

(3) gravity operable valve means for effecting the closing of one ofsaid discharge jet openings and the opening of the other of saiddischarge jet openings, said means being responsive to the interruptionof fluid flow into said cavity and to a change in the angle ofinclination of said body with reference to a horizontal plane as saidbody moves through a pool being cleaned.

14. A transporter for a submergible bexible conduit used in the cleaningof swimming pools, said conduit having one end adapted to be connectedto a source of water under pressure and an opposite end provided with adischarge nozzle, said transporter comprising:

(A) a body having an interior cavity adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a source of water under pressure and adapted to becarried by said conduit intermediate the ends thereof in submergedcondition adjacent the lower surface of a swimmin'g pool;

(B) a pair of substantially oppositely disposed discharge jet openingsadapted to be in fluid communication with said cavity; and,

(C) gravity operable valve means for effecting the closing of one ofsaid discharge jet openings and the opening of the other of saiddischarge jet openings, said means being responsive to the interruptionof fluid flow into said cavity and to a change in the angle ofinclination of said body with reference to a horizontal plane as saidbody moves through a pool being cleaned.

15. A transporter according to claim 14, wherein:

(A) said interior cavity is of elongated tubular configuration;

(B) said discharge jet openings are disposed at opposite ends of saidcavity;

(C) fluid communication with said cavity is established through an inletopening provided intermediate the ends thereof;

(D) said valve means comprises a closure member freely movable withinsaid cavity to either side of said inlet opening; and,

(B) said closure member is adapted to seal the jet opening adjacentthereto against water entering said inlet opening.

16. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools, comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion adapted to beextended in submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a swimmingpool, said portion having:

(1) one end adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure;

(2) an opposite end provided with a submergible discharge nozzle;

(B) a transporter carried by said portion intermediate the ends thereoffor substantially unrestricted random movement together therewith, saidtransporter comprising:

( 1) a body having an interior cavity in sealed fluid communication withthe interior of said portion;

(2) a pair of substantially oppositely disposed discharge jet openingsin fluid communication with said cavity; and

(3) a closure member adapted to gravitate to positions alternativelyclosing either one of said openings, which member is free to gravitateonly upon the interruption of fluid flow into said cavity; and,

(C) means to selectively interrupt fluid flow into said cavity.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said means to selectivelyinterrupt fluid flow comprises a periodically operated shut-off valvedisposed to interrupt the flow of water to said conduit from said sourceof water under pressure.

18. An automatic pool cleaning device comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having:

(1) one end adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure;

(2) an opposite end provided with a submergible discharge nozzle;

(B) reactive propulsion means carried by said conduit intermediate theends thereof for substantially unrestricted random movement togethertherewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said conduit, said body defining an interiorcavity adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of water underpressure, said body being adapted to be in submerged condition along thelower surface of a swimming pool when water is not flowing through saidconduit;

(2) an angularly adjustable nozzle segment pivotally secured to saidbody and having a pair of substantially oppositely disposed dischargejet openings in fluid communication with said cavity, each of said jetopenings being thereby adapted to discharge a jet of water along a pathwhich defines with the underlying portion of the axis of said conduit,with reference to a horizontal plane, an angle of from 0-90, said jet ofwater being thereby adapted to effect a dragging movement of at leastone of the two portions of said conduit which are disposed immediatelyadjacent said nozzle segment, whereby, upon commencement of flow ofwater through said conduit, said dragging movement of said conduitportion is adapted to effect a sweeping or dislodgement of dirt from theportion of the lower pool surface underlying said portion of saidconduit and said jet of water is adapted to effect a pool cleaningaction to supplement the pool cleaning action of the water dischargedfrom said nozzle at said opposite end of said conduit, and

(3) means for effecting the closing of one of said discharge jetopenings and the opening of the other of said discharge jet openings.

3,392,733 13 14 19. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools, ofa length of said portion, immediately attached comprising: to said body,adjacent said surface.

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion 22. An automaticcleaning device for swiming pools,

adapted to be extended in submerged condition adcomprising: jacent thelower surface of a swimming pool, said (A) an elongated flexible conduithaving a portion portion having:

(1) one end adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure;

(2) an opposite end provided with a submergible discharge nozzle; and

(B) reactive propulsion means carried by said portion intermediate theends thereof for substantially unrestricted random movement togethertherewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said portion so as to be adapted to assumetherewith a submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool tobe cleaned, said body defining an interior cavity adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a source of water under pressure; and

(2) a nozzle segment carried by said body and having :a jet openingadapted to be in fluid communication with said cavity and adapted to bepositioned to discharge a jet of water in a direction generally parallelto the lower surface of a pool to be cleaned and thereby cause said bodyto move in submerged condition adjacent such lower pool surface, saidnozzle segment being connected to said body for rotative movementwhereby said jet of water may be discharged at points along an arcuatepath, and drive means carried by said body and responsive to water flowwithin said cavity to impart rotative movement to said nozzle segment.

adapted to be extended in submerged condition adjacent and above thelower surface of a swimming pool and to be disposed for substantiallyunrestricted random movement within said spool, said portion beingadapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure; and

(B) reactive propulsion means carried by said portion for substantiallyunrestricted random movement together therewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said portion so as to be adapted to assumetherewith a submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool tobe cleaned, said body defining an interior cavity adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a source of water under pressure; and

(2) a nozzle segment carried by said body and having a jet openingadapted to be in fluid communicat-ion with said cavity and adapted to bepositioned to discharge a jet of water in a direction generally parallelto the lower surface of a pool to be cleaned and thereby cause said bodyto move in submerged condition adjacent such lower pool surface, saidnozzle segment being connected to said body for rotative movementwhereby said jet of water may be discharged at points along an arcuatepath, and drive means carried by said body and responsive to water flowwithin said cavity to impart rotative movement to said nozzle segment.

23. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools, comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion 20. The pool cleaningdevice of claim 19 including means carried by said body and positionedto selectively and periodically impede effective body-drive dischargefrom said jet opening during the course of rotative movement of saidnozzle segment.

21. An automatic cleaning device for swimming pools,

comprising:

(A) an elongated flexible conduit having a portion adapted to beextended in submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a swimmingpool and to be disposed for substantially unrestricted random movementwithin said pool, said portion being adapted to be connected to a sourceof water under pressure; and

(B) reactive propulsion means carried by said portion for substantiallyunrestricted random movement together therewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said portion so as to be adapted to assumetherewith a submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool tobe cleaned, said body being free of moving parts which are adapted toengage said lower surface, said body defining an interior cavity adaptedto be in fluid communication with a source of water under pressure; and

(2) a nozzle segment secured to said body and having a pair ofsubstantially oppositely disposed discharge jet openings adapted to bein fluid communication with said cavity and adapted to be positioned todischarge jets of water, and water flow-responsive control means foralternately opening and closing each of said jet discharge openings,whereby, when said portion is in submerged condition adjacent the lowersurface of a pool to be cleaned and said cavity is connected to a sourceof water under pressure, :a jet of water is alternately discharged fromeach of said openings in a direction imparting a force to said portionthrough said body to efiect at least a component of axial movementadapted to be extended in submerged condition adjacent the lower surfaceof a swimming pool and to be disposed for substantially unrestrictedrandom movement within said pool, said portion being adapted to beconnected to a source of water under pressure;

(B) first reactive propulsion means, the same being carried by saidportion for substantially unrestricted random movement togethertherewith, said means comprising:

(1) a body connected to said portion so as to be adapted to assumetherewith a submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a pool tobe cleaned, said body being free of moving parts which are adapted toengage said lower surface, said body defining an interior cavity adaptedto be in fluid communication with a source of water under pressure;

(2) a first nozzle segment, the same being secured to said body having ajet opening adapted to be in fluid communication with said cavity andadapted to be positioned to discharge a jet of water, whereby, when saidportion is in submerged condition adjacent the lower surface of a poolto be cleaned and said cavity is connected to a source of water underpressure, a jet of water is discharged from said opening in a directionimparting a force to said portion through said body to effect at least acomponent of axial movement of a length of said portion, immediatelyattached to said body, adjacent said surface; and

(C) second reactive propulsion means, the same being carried by saidportion for substantially unrestricted random movement togethertherewith, comprising a second nozzle segment, the same being secured tosaid portion in flow communication therewith, disposed in spaced apartrelation to said first nozzle seg- 15 ment and upstream thereof, saidsecond nozzle segment being oriented to discharge a jet of Water andthereby apply a tension force to the adjacent part of said flexibleconduit which is upstream relative to said second nozzle segment. 5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1961 Pansini 134167 Pansini134168 XR Varian 134168 XR Anthony 134167 Winston et al. 134167 XRRuston 151.7 XR

Miller 134168. XR

Vernon 134168 Arneson 134167 ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner.

